Chapter 1

1:1-17 - The gospel of Matthew begins with a boring genealogy like that we are told to avoid in 1 Tim.1:4 ("Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies") and Tit.3:9 ("Avoid foolish questions and genealogies").

* Genealogies were important up until the time of Jesus Christ.  He fulfilled the numerous, lineage prophecies.  However, after His birth, life, death, and resurrection, it wasn't necessary to trace the Jewish lineages.

* Some people were boasting about their genealogies.  Therefore, in the New Testament after Christ, they were told not to worry about them.

1:3 - Judah "went in unto" his daughter-in-law, Tamar, who was disguised as a prostitute. She conceived and bore Pharez, an ancestor of Jesus. (Gen.38:2-29)

* This is correct.  However, Judah did this unknowingly.

1:6-16 - There are 29 generations listed from David to Jesus in Matthew's genealogy, while Luke's (3:23-31) has 43. Except for David at one end and Jesus at the other, there are only three names in the two lists that are the same.

* Both of these lists contain some omissions and neither list claims to be exhaustive.  They don't contradict each other, though.

* Luke reveals the genealogy of Mary.  Matthew lists the genealogy of Joseph.

1:9 - 1 Chr.3:11-12 lists three generations between Osiah and Jotham (Joash, Amaziah, and Azariah), but Matthew omits all three.

* Matthew omitted these generations.  However, the omissions don't detract from Jesus' fulfillment of the genealogical prophecies.  Matthew included certain people for different reasons and his genealogy doesn't claim to be exhaustive.

1:11 - Was Josias the father or grandfather of Jechonias?

* Josias was Jechonias' grandfather.  This is clear from 1 Chronicles 3:14-16.

* Matthew simply omits Jehoiakim.  However, the Greek word for "begat" doesn't necessarily indicate fatherhood.  It can be used for generational purposes indicating grandfathers, great-grandfathers, etc.

1:12 - God prophesied in Jeremieah (22:28-30) that Jeconiah would be childless, but this verse says Jeconiah's son was Salathiel.

* Jeremiah 22:30 reads, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not prosper in his days; for none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah.’”  It is clear that he would have descendants, but they would not prosper on David's throne.

1:12 - Who was Zerubbabel's father?

* Pedaiah was Zerubbabel's father.  This is evidenced in 1 Chronicles 3:19.

* Matthew 1:12 and Luke 3:27 use a Hebrew word that is translated "begat," but it refers to lineages and doesn't always refer to father-son relationships.  Therefore, we understand that Salathiel could be Zerubbabel's grandfather, great grandfather, etc.

1:16 - The genealogies of Matthew and Luke do not even agree on the identity of Joseph's father (the grandfather of Jesus). Matthew says Joseph's father was Jacob; Luke (3:23) says his name was Heli.

* Joseph was the son-in-law of Heli.  Joseph's father was Jacob.  It was traditional for Jews to omit women from their genealogical tables.  Consequently, they would often write the name of the father-in-law, so they could continue and understand the lineage. 

* Luke reveals the genealogy of Mary.  Matthew lists the genealogy of Joseph.

1:17 - This verse says there were 14 generations from David to the Babylonian captivity, but 1 Chr.3:9-15 says there were 18. Matthew dropped four generations to preserve the magical number fourteen.

* Matthew never states that his genealogy mentioned every single descendant of Adam.

1:18 - After listing the genealogy of Jesus, Matthew tells us that Joseph was not Jesus' father after all, which of course makes the entire genealogy meaningless. The Holy Ghost, not Joseph, was the one who impregnated Mary, contradicting many scriptures which clearly state that Joseph was the father of Jesus.

* The Holy Ghost did impregnate the virgin Mary.  However, Joseph was Jesus' adopted and earthly father.

1:18, 25 - Many Christians believe that Mary was always a virgin, but these verses say that she and Joseph "came together" after the birth of Jesus, their "firstborn son."

* After her marriage, Mary did not stay a virgin because she was not required to do so.

1:19 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

1:23 - The prophecy given in Is.7:14 referred not to a virgin but to a young woman, living at the time of the prophecy. And Jesus, of course, was called Jesus -- and is not called Emmanuel in any verse in the New Testament.

* The KJV, NKJV, ASV, TLB, and NIV translate the Hebrew word "almah" into the English word "virgin."  "Virgin" is clearly one of the definitions of the word "almah" and it is most appropriate for this passage of scripture.

* The Hebrew word "Emmanuel" means "God with us."  Jesus was God's Son and the second person of the triune God (the trinity).  He was one with God and sinless like God.  Therefore, it was right to call Him "Emmanuel."  Simply because the New Testament doesn't record people calling Jesus "Emmanuel," this doesn't mean that "Emmanuel" was an inappropriate or unused title for Him.

* In Matthew 1:23, this Hebrew word for "name," in the phrase, "His name will be called Emmanuel," also means "character" and "authority."

Chapter 2

2:1 - When was Jesus born? Before 4 BCE. Herod the Great died in 4 BCE.

* This verse does not tell us which year Jesus was born.

2:1-2 - Does the Bible condemn astrology?

* Astrology involves manipulating God by predicting things without His supervision or blessing. We don't see this condoned anywhere in the Bible.

* This star was a sign of the Savior's virgin birth. We already saw in Jeremiah 10:2 how there would be signs from heaven for believers to understand and unbelievers to be dismayed. This wasn't astrology, but it was the revelation and plan of God.

2:1-2, 11, 22-23 - Where did Joseph and Mary live before the birth of Jesus? They lived in a house in Bethlehem, and moved to Nazareth after returning from Egypt.

* These verses say nothing about Joseph and Mary's residence.  They only say that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, then they went to Nazareth.

2:5-6 - Matthew claims that Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfils the prophecy in Micah 5:2. But this is unlikely for two reasons.  "Bethlehem Ephratah" in Micah 5:2 refers not to a town, but to a clan: the clan of Bethlehem, who was the son of Caleb's second wife, Ephrathah (1 Chr.2:18, 2:50-52, 4:4). The prophecy (if that is what it is) does not refer to the Messiah, but rather to a military leader, as can be seen from Micah 5:6. This leader is supposed to defeat the Assyrians, which, of course, Jesus never did.

* Many place names in the Bible were that of a clan and a place.  It is where the clan settled.

* Micah 5:6 is a different prophecy and it refers to different people and events.

It should also be noted that Matthew altered the text of Micah 5:2 by saying: "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda" rather than "Bethlehem Ephratah" as is said in Micah 5:2. He did this, intentionally no doubt, to make the verse appear to refer to the town of Bethlehem rather than the family clan.

* "Ephrath" or "Ephratah" is another name for Bethlehem.  Matthew's omission is not significant and doesn't change the text or meaning.

2:14 - Matthew tells us that Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus left for Egypt soon after Jesus' birth, yet Luke (2:39) says they went directly to Nazareth after his birth.

* Luke never states that they did not go to Egypt.  He simply omits this flight and their return.  While recounting past events in a book written in the first century, one wouldn't expect an exhaustive account of Jesus' every move.  Nonetheless, we've been given a great number of facts from the gospel writers.

2:15 - "Out of Egypt I have called my son," Matthew claims that the flight of Jesus' family to Egypt is a fulfillment of Hosea 11:1. But Hosea 11:1 is not a prophecy at all, as is clear when the entire verse is quoted ("When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."). It is a reference to the Hebrew exodus from Egypt and has nothing to do with Jesus. Matthew tries to hide this fact by quoting only the last part of the verse.

* Hosea was clearly a prophet and prophetic statements often have dual meanings.  Hosea 11:1 can be applied to the Hebrew exodus from Egypt and Jesus' return from Egypt.

2:16 - Herod kills all boys in and around Bethlehem that are two years old and under. Such a massacre would certainly have been noted by contemporary historians. Yet not even Josephus, who documented Herod's life in detail, mentioned this event.

* First, this is an argument from silence.  Simply because we may not have a record of this event now doesn't mean it did not happen.

* Here are several, probable reasons why this event isn't found in the historical records: 1) Bethlehem was a very small town and probably had only 500-600 people living in it.  2) There were likely under 100 babies killed.  3) Herod killed his own family and anyone that he thought was challenging his power.  Consequently, historians like Josephus may have deemed Herod killing under 100 babies a non-noteworthy event for him.

2:17-18 - Matthew quotes Jeremiah 31:15, claiming that it was a prophecy of King Herod's alleged slaughter of the children in and around Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus. But this verse refers to the Babylonian captivity, as is clear by reading the next two verses (16 and 17), and, thus, has nothing to do with Herod's massacre.

* The verses in Jeremiah 31:15 were prophetic and had a past meaning and a future one.  This is the nature of many, biblical prophecies.

2:23 - "He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew claims this was a fulfillment of prophecy, yet such a prophecy is not found anywhere in the Old Testament.

* First, this may be another argument from silence.  The Bible doesn't include every word spoken by every prophet of God.  When Matthew wrote his gospel, he may have had access to more sources than we do today.

* This verse is possibly referring to Isaiah 11:1 and 2.  These verses say, "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.  The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."  This Hebrew word for "Branch" is the Hebrew word "netser."  It is indicating that the Messiah would be set apart and special.  This word gave birth to the Hellenistic word for Nazarene, which is "notsri."  Among Jews, even today, Jesus has been known as Yeshu haNotsri (Jesus the Nazarene).

Chapter 3

3:10, 12 - Those who bear bad fruit will be cut down and burned "with unquenchable fire."

* Jesus is simply indicating that the people who do evil and do not repent and trust, believe, and accept Him as their Lord and Savior will be judged and die.  He is also referring to the Lake of Fire.  See Revelation 20:10-15.

3:15 - John has a darned good point in v.14. If Jesus is the sinless Son of God and all that, then shouldn't Jesus be baptizing John instead of the reverse? Isn't baptism supposed to forgive sins and be a sign of repentance? If so, then why would Jesus need to be baptized? And what the heck is "it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" supposed to mean?

* Jesus didn't baptize anyone.  This was likely because He didn't want some people to get prideful because they were baptized by the Messiah.

* Baptism was an outward sign of dedication to God.  Jesus showed the world that He was devoted to God.

* Verse 15 reads, "But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.'  Then he allowed Him."  Jesus was simply telling John to baptize Him because it was the right thing to do.  It installed the rite of Christian baptism and was a pre-cursor to the New Testament's writings about it.

3:17 - In Matthew's gospel, God addresses those witnessing Jesus' baptism saying, "This is my beloved son ...." But Mark (1:11) and Luke (3:22) have God speak to Jesus directly" "Thou art my beloved son ...." But whatever the exact wording, it seems strange that after witnessing this event, John the Baptist is still unsure about Jesus (see Mt.11:2-3).

* Matthew and Mark record God saying, "This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased."  Since Matthew and Mark have written in this tense, it indicates that God is endorsing Jesus Christ and His ministry; not for His self-esteem, but for the benefit of others. 

* Luke writes, "You are my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased."  Since Luke has written in this tense, it indicates that God is directly endorsing Jesus Christ and His ministry.  It is likely that both statements were made and an omission was made by each writer.  In the Greek text, there is a very small difference between the two statements.

* John the Baptist gets thrown in prison and begins to lose faith.  Many of the Jews expected their Messiah to be an earthly king that would set up His kingdom on Earth and overthrow the Romans.  This was not Jesus' mission, so some of them misunderstood and became dismayed.  John the Baptist may fit into this category.

Chapter 4

4:1 - The Son of God is led by the Spirit of God to be tempted by the devil.

* The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to pray and fast for 40 days.  During this time, He is tempted by the Devil.

4:5-8 - The devil kidnaps Jesus and takes him up to the top of the temple, and then to the top of "an exceedingly high mountain," high enough to see "all the kingdoms of the world." I guess the earth was flat in those days.

* The scriptures don't indicate that Jesus was kidnapped.  Matthew 4:1 states that Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil.  They were taken to a place where they could see all the kingdoms of the world.

* These verses don't say that the Earth was flat.  Most people think they were given a vision of all the kingdoms of the world.

* This Greek word for "showed," in the phrase, "showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory," can be used figuratively.

4:6, 10 - The devil correctly quotes scripture (Ps.91:11-12), while Jesus misquotes Deuteronomy by adding "only" to Dt.6:13.

* Jesus correctly quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 and 14.  There is no provision, in the Old Testament or New, for worshiping other gods.  Furthermore, Deuteronomy 6:14 explicitly states this.

4:7 - Jesus quotes Dt.6:16 saying, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Yet James (1:13) says that "God cannot be tempted." Is it necessary to prohibit an impossible act?

* Jesus is indicating that the Devil should not provoke God.  He is not talking about tempting God to sin.  God cannot sin and cannot be tempted to sin.

* James is telling us that God cannot be tempted to sin.  There are two, different, Greek words to indicate two, different meanings in these texts (Matthew 4:7 and James 1:13).

* In Malachi 3:15, the present situation was being mentioned.  The unrighteous people were prospering.  They were "testing God's patience" and going (seemingly) unpunished.

* In Acts 15:10, this Greek word for "tempt" is better interpreted "test" and is referring to the same thing as above: testing God's patience.

4:7 - Is it ok to test (or tempt) God? No, God doesn't like to be tested or tempted.

* Jesus tells the devil that he should not put God to a test.

4:10 - If Jesus is correct when he says "him only shalt thou serve," then it is wrong for slaves to serve their masters as they are told to do elsewhere in the Bible.

* This Greek word for "serve" includes the following meanings: "render religious homage," "worship," and "minister to God."  This isn't the same kind of service that humans render to other humans.

Chapter 5

5:16 - Should we let others see our good works?

* Yes, people can see our good works.

* Matthew 6:1 uses the word "alms" and not simply "works."  This verse is referring to a specific kind of gift to the poor.  It was also directed to people who were only giving their alms to be noticed and exalted.

5:17 - Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn't the slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament.

* God's laws were given to protect people and make them righteous.  The prophets were the mouthpieces of God.  The so-called cruelties were God's judgments on wicked, unrepentant sinners; after being warned and generally after receiving several warnings and much time to repent.

5:18 - In this verse, Jesus says that the Old Testament laws are binding on everyone forever. But in Luke (16:16) he says they were binding only until the time of John the Baptist. And Paul (Rom.7:4, 6; Eph.2:15) insists that Christians are free to completely disregard the Old Testament laws. Notice also that Jesus says here that the earth will not last forever, but elsewhere the bible says it will.

* Jesus never says that all of the Old Testament, Mosaic laws were binding on everyone.

* Jesus says that the law will be completely fulfilled before the Earth passes away.  Incidentally, Jesus Christ fulfilled the entire law.

* Paul didn't say that Christians can completely disregard all of the Old Testament laws.  Paul indicated that all of the Mosaic laws did not need to be kept by Christians.  He also indicated that only keeping the laws (or trying to keep the laws), without faith in Jesus Christ, could not make a person righteous.

* Luke simply indicated that the law and the prophets were the sole teachers until John came.

* In the Old Testament passages that appear to indicate the Earth will last forever, this Hebrew word for "forever" is better translated "concealed the vanishing point."  The Earth won't last forever.

5:22 - Jesus says that "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Yet he often calls his critics and disciples fools. Paul is also in danger of going to hell since he liked to call people fools.

* In Matthew 5:22, Jesus warns people against calling people fools without correcting or loving them.  Therefore, He isn't in danger of hell fire.  Paul took much time and effort to preach and explain to people why they were foolish.  Therefore, he isn't in danger of hell fire, either.

* This verse is directed to unbelievers.  It is to point out their sin and explain how an evil attitude was also sinful and worthy of punishment.

5:29-30 - Jesus recommends that to avoid sin we cut off our hands and pluck out our eyes. This advice is given immediately after he says that anyone who looks with lust at any women commits adultery.

* This isn't a literal commandment.  Jesus is saying this to indicate the depravity of sin and God's hatred for it.

* Jesus emphasized how issues began in the heart.  If a person looks at a woman with lust, then it is evil; just like committing adultery with her.

5:32 - In Mark (10:11) and Luke (16:18), Jesus condemns all divorces without exception. But in this verse, Jesus says that divorce is permissible when the wife is guilty of fornication. But what if the husband is unfaithful? Jesus doesn't seem to care about that.

* Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18, Matthew 5:32, and Matthew 19:9 are all different statements, made by Jesus, about divorce. They don't contradict each other, though. They complement each other.

* First, Jesus makes it clear that God created man and woman to enter into a covenant with God to stay married. He quotes Genesis, too. This is the ideal.

* Here are the things that we learn from these four statements by Jesus:

1) If a husband or wife divorces the other and marries another, then they commit adultery (Mark 10:11). Since no reasons or circumstances are given, Jesus is obviously talking about divorce without fornication.

2) If a husband divorces his wife and marries another, then he commits adultery. If the divorced wife marries another, then she commits adultery (Luke 16:18). Once again, Jesus is talking about divorce without fornication being the cause.

3) If a husband divorces his wife for any reason besides fornication, then he causes her to commit adultery. Whoever marries this divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:32). Now, Jesus is giving instructions about a married person who commits fornication.

4) If a husband divorces his wife for any reason besides fornication and marries another woman, he commits adultery. Whoever marries this divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 19:9). Once again, Jesus is giving instructions about a married person who commits fornication.

* It is obvious from the text that the first two verses are toward people who have not committed fornication. The third and fourth verses are given to people who have committed fornication. These don't contradict each other, but they give instructions to people in different circumstances. Furthermore, they aren't taken from the same times and places in Jesus' ministry, so they cannot be misquotes or omissions.

* 1 Corinthians 7:15 addresses another circumstance. Paul gives instructions to spouses who have an unbelieving husband or wife that abandons them. They are no longer in bondage to them.

5:34-37 - Jesus forbids the taking of any kind of oath. Yet such oaths are approved in many places in the Bible.

* In this passage and in James 5:12, we are told to be trustworthy.  "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No'" is Jesus' way of saying that we shouldn't need to swear for someone to take us seriously.  Be an honorable person of your word, then you simply have to say "Yes" or "No" and you will be believed and trusted.

5:44 - "Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell. (Mk.16:16)

* We are supposed to love our enemies.  This is true and a good command.

* In Mark 16:16, Jesus tells people how to be saved and what will happen if they don't repent and trust, believe, and accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  If Jesus didn't tell them about the wages of their sins and the way to Heaven, then He wouldn't be loving them.

5:45 - Is anyone good? Yes.

* Yes, people can be good.  They can also be bad.

5:45 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

Chapter 6

6:1 - In this verse Jesus says not to let others see your good works, but in Mt.5:16 he says that your should let others see them.

* Yes, people can see our good works.

* Matthew 6:1 uses the word "alms" and not simply "works."  This verse is referring to a specific kind of gift to the poor.  It is also directed to people who were only giving their alms to be noticed and exalted.

6:5-6 - Jesus tells his disciples not to pray in public. Those who favor school prayer, National Day of Prayer, etc. should take his advice. But Paul (1 Tim.2:8) disagrees with Jesus by telling his followers to "pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands."

* First, Jesus tells His disciples to avoid being like the hypocrites.  They were praying in public because they wanted attention.  Jesus added that their prayers would not be answered.

* Jesus tells His disciples that they should do the opposite and pray privately.  However, Jesus never forbids or condemns public prayer.  In fact, He prayed several prayers in public.

6:9-13 - Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. Yet Paul in Rom.8:26 says that Christians don't know how to pray.

* Yes, Jesus did teach His disciples how to pray.  However, He never tells them to pray His exact prayer and to neglect praying original or other prayers.

* Paul indicates that the Holy Spirit within believers helps them to pray.  Sometimes, we know what we need and we pray according to God's will.  However, sometimes we need God's Spirit to reveal to us what we need.  His Spirit intercedes for us.

6:13 - In the "Lord's Prayer," Jesus says, "Lead us not into temptation." But according to James (1:13), God never tempts anyone. If so, then why should we ask him not to tempt us?

* This verse does not indicate God doing any tempting.

* God leads us into truth, maturity, fellowship, etc.  If God wants us to grow or if He wants us to face punishment, then He could lead us into temptation; where evil tempts us.  Jesus is giving us a model prayer and simply asking God to avoid leading us into temptation.

6:23 - "But if thine eye be evil ...." How can an eye be evil?

* Jesus is speaking figuratively.  This verse can be better understood by reading verse 22 (and the verses after 23).  Matthew 6:22 and 23 read, "The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

* If a person looks at and dwells on good things, then their body will be full of light.  If they look at and dwell on evil things, then they will be full of darkness.

6:26 - "Behold the fowls of the air...." Jesus says that God feeds them. But, if so, he does one hell of a lousy job at it. Most birds die before leaving the nest, and the few who manage to fly soon die painful deaths of starvation, predation, or disease. If God is caring for them, pray that he stays away from you.

* Jesus was speaking against worry.  He was indicating that certain birds were being fed by God, therefore the followers of God should not worry about worldly things.

Speaking of the birds, Jesus asks: "Are ye not much better than they?" This is meant as a rhetorical question, but the answer is far from obvious to me. I guess to Jesus, though, birds are not worth much compared to humans. So you can do whatever the hell you want with (and to) them.

* Humans are made in God's image.  We were commanded to rule over the earth and the things in it.  However, humans were never given the command to abuse these things.  We have the responsibility to treat these things correctly.

* Humans are the most important things in God's creation.  This does not mean that God hates animals.  However, humans are offered forgiveness, redemption, and salvation through Jesus Christ, but animals are not.

6:31, 34 - Jesus says that we should not concern ourselves with material things, But Paul (1 Tim.5:8) says that anyone who behaves that way has "denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

* Jesus is correct.  Spiritual things are more important than material things.

* 1 Timothy 5:8 is speaking to lazy people who do not support their families.

Chapter 7

7:1 - Jesus says, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." But in John (7:24) he says we should "judge righteous judgment." And Paul (1 Cor.2:15, 1 Cor.5:12-13, 1 Cor.6:2-3) tells Christians to judge everyone -- believers, non-believers, even the angels are to be judged by "the saints."

* This Greek word for "judge" is better translated "condemn."  Jesus is telling us not to condemn others because this is not our duty.

* John 7:24 tells us to, "stop judging by appearances and make righteous judgments."  In other words, Jesus encourages us to stop being superficial and making false judgments, get all of the facts, and make a truthful judgment.  Incidentally, people make numerous judgments each day: this is right, this is wrong, this is better, this is best, etc.

* 1 Corinthians 2:15 tells us to "judge all things."  This is consistent with Jesus' commands.

* In 1 Corinthians 5:12 and 13, Paul simply states that it is not his duty to condemn people who do not believe in God.  This is God's job.

* 1 Corinthians 6:2 and 3 refers to the future judgment.  Saints will judge the world and the angels by God's, righteous standards.

7:1 - What must you do to be saved? Don't judge other people.

* Jesus was making a statement about condemning others; not about the way of salvation.  He was clearly talking about earthly treatment of people and not divine judgment.

7:7-8 - Jesus says that "he who seeketh findeth." But in Luke (13:24) he says that "many ... will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." And Proverbs (1:28) quotes God as saying that they "shall call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." Which is it?

* Jesus is correct.  Those who seek God will find Him.

* Luke 13:24 is referring to people who are willingly unable to enter the kingdom of Heaven.  God isn't forbidding these people, but they will not repent and believe, trust, and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

* Regarding Proverb 1:28, the verses before and after it explain its context.  This scripture is referring to people who are being judged by God.  After they have sinned and chosen not to repent, God will judge them.  If they call on Him without a clean heart or if they call on Him and His judgment is already in motion, He will not answer them.  Proverbs 1:29-31 read, "Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.  Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies."

7:7-8 - What must you do to be saved? Just ask.

* This verse does not mention salvation.

7:12 - The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Too bad God doesn't follow this rule.

* God is our Creator.  He is completely righteous.  We have sinned.  Therefore, He owns the right to love His creation, have mercy on His creation, judge His creation, etc.

7:13-14 - Jesus says that most people will go to hell.

* Matthew 7:13 and 14 read, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."  Jesus does not indicate that people who want to love God and trust Him won't be let into Heaven.  However, He does indicate that there is one way to Heaven and few will find it.

7:21 - According to Jesus, calling on his name is not enough to get you into heaven. Both Peter and Paul disagree saying, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21, Rom.10:13).

* Jesus is referring to people who haven't repented and trusted, believed, and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior.  These people have embraced false religion and have been deceived.  They don't even understand how they are not saved.

* When Peter and Paul use the word "call," they are not referring to a casual beckoning.  This Greek word for "call" involves "worship" and "testimony."  Furthermore, the verses preceding Romans 10:13 indicate God's plan of salvation.

* Regarding Matthew 7:21, in the phrase "not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of Heaven," this Greek word for "says" means "to merely break the silence."  It doesn't indicate any kind of repentance or saving faith.

Chapter 8

8:5-9 - Jesus is approached by a centurion who asks him to heal his servant. But when the same story is told in Luke (7:1-7), the centurion doesn't come himself but sends some "elders of the Jews

* Matthew 8:8 parallels Luke 7:7 (verse 8 indicates the centurion speaking, too), exactly.  Luke simply states that some Jewish elders approached Jesus, first.  This is only an omission on Matthew's part.

8:5-9 - Here was the perfect opportunity for Jesus to condemn slavery. All he'd have to do is say, "OK, I'll heal him. But then you must set your slave free, because slavery is an abomination to God." Does God approve of slavery?

* Verse 5 calls this "slave" a "servant."  Therefore, Jesus didn't have any reason to tell him to free his slave.

8:12 - Jesus says "the children of the kingdom [the Jews] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." But Paul (Rom.11:27) says that "all Israel shall be saved."

* Since this Roman centurion believed and trusted in Jesus, He is using this opportunity to mention how some unbelieving Jews would receive God's judgment.  Jesus never says that all Jews will not believe.

* Paul quotes Isaiah by saying, "For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."  Paul is indicating that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy because He died for their sins.  Repenting and believing, trusting, and accepting Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior gives them eternal life.  Therefore, the Jews will have their sins forgiven if they do this.  This verse doesn't say that the Jews will receive this gift if they refuse it.

8:14 - Peter, who Catholics consider the first pope, was married.

* This is correct.

8:21 - Jesus shows no compassion for the bereaved, saying to a man who had just lost his father: "Let the dead bury the dead."

* Jesus is making a point.  He is encouraging this person, who claims to have faith, to preach God's Word.  Jesus doesn't have anything against bereaving people.  This is clearly seen in the story of Lazarus' death and resurrection.

* Although it is important to grieve and be with loved ones, Jesus is emphasizing the high calling of preaching the Word.  Those who are called must love God and obey His will above all other things.

8:28-32 - Jesus meets two men (both Mk.5:2 and Lk.8:27 say there was only one) possessed by devils. The devils ask Jesus to cast them into a herd of pigs. He does, and the poor pigs run off into the sea and drown. Bertrand Russell in Why I am not a Christian considered this story to be evidence of the defective moral character of Jesus. He pointed out that if, as most Christians believe, Jesus was omnipotent, he could have could have found a kinder way to dispense with the devils -- like just making them go away, for instance.

* Jesus did heal this man who was possessed.  There were two men, but only one spoke.  This is why Luke and Mark omit the other man.  Luke and Mark do not say there was "only one man."

* These people who owned the swine were Jews living on the outskirts of the country.  Why did they raise unclean animals?  They were supposed to avoid eating and touching these animals.

* Jesus cast the demons into the pigs.  The demons caused the pigs to kill themselves.  Jesus didn't cause the pigs to kill themselves.

8:29 - The devils confess that Jesus is the Son of God. According to 1 Jn.4:15 ("Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God"), then, God dwells in the devils and the devils in God.

* The devils admit that Jesus is God's Son.  They do not repent and believe, trust, and accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

* 1 John 4:15 describes a confession unto salvation.  This involves repenting and believing, trusting, and accepting Jesus Christ.

8:34 - After Jesus kills the herd of pigs by sending devils into them, the "whole city" asks him to leave. I don't blame them.

* Jesus didn't kill the pigs.  The demons caused the pigs to commit suicide.

* These people were living in disobedience to God: touching, raising, and eating unclean animals.  It is no wonder that unrepentant sinners wanted the Holy Son of God to leave their presence.  They felt dirty around him.

Chapter 9

9:18 - Matthew says that the ruler's daughter was already dead when Jesus was asked to help, but both Mark (5:23) and Luke (8:42) say that she was still alive.

* In Luke and Mark, this Greek word for "dying" is better translated "dead."  Jarius' daughter was dead when he approached Jesus for help.

9:24-25 - Was Jesus the first to rise from the dead? Will anyone rise from the dead?

* Jesus is the "foremost in importance" to rise from the dead.  This is a better, English translation of this Greek passage. 

* See "Special Questions" for more on this.

9:32-33 - According to Matthew, people who cannot speak are possessed by the devil.

* Matthew never indicates that all dumb people are possessed with a devil.  This person, however, had become dumb because of the devil inside of them.

Chapter 10

10:1 - Jesus gives his disciples "power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness."

* This is correct.

10:2-4 - The New Testament writers don't even agree on the names of the apostles. Matthew (10:2-4) and Mark (3:18) include Thaddeus and exclude Judas the brother of James, while Luke (6:16) and Acts (1:13) include Judas the brother of James and exclude Thaddeus.

* Judas Lebbaeus was also called Thaddeus.  This is the same person.  Since Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ, leading to His death, Matthew and Mark use Judas Labbaeus' other name: Thaddeus.  They didn't want readers to get him confused with the evil Judas.  Luke simply uses his "family" or "given" name.

10:5-6 - Jesus tells his disciples to keep away from the Gentiles and Samaritans, and go only to the Israelites. But this command is disobeyed in and contradicted by many New Testament passages.

* First, the gospel went to the Jews and not to the Gentiles or Samaritans.  Later, the gospel was preached to these groups of people.  See Romans 1:16, 2:9, and 10, etc.

10:8 - Jesus tells his disciples to perform all the usual tricks: "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils."

* Jesus' disciples did many miracles in His name.

10:10 - In Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to go barefoot and take no staff. But the Jesus in Mark's gospel (6:8-9) tells them to wear sandals and carry a staff.

* In this verse, Jesus clearly tells His disciples not to take a lot of things, including "staves" (plural).  In Mark 6:8 and 9, Jesus tells them the same things, but tells them to take "one staff" (singular).  Jesus was telling them not to take multiple staves, but they were permitted to take one.

* Jesus never told His disciples that they had to go barefoot.  This Greek word for "provide," in the phrase "provide neither . . . ," is also translated "get" or "acquire."  Jesus was simply telling His disciples not to go and get extra sandals.

10:14-15 - Cities that neither "receive" the disciples nor "hear" their words will be destroyed by God. It will be worse for them than for Sodom and Gomorrah. And you know what God supposedly did to those poor folks (see Gen.19:24).

* The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were extremely wicked and unrepentant.  They received God's judgment, too.

* These cities that rejected the disciples and the gospel will be punished severely as well.

10:16 - "Other sheep" - The Book of Mormon identifies the "other sheep" to be the Nephites who would be visited by Jesus in the New World after his resurrection.

* There is no evidence in the Bible that these other sheep are the Nephites from the Book of Mormon.  It's purely conjecture on their part.

10:21 - Families will be torn apart because of Jesus (this is one of the few "prophecies" in the Bible that has actually come true). "Brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

* This is correct.

10:22 - What must you do to be saved? Endure to the end.

* This word that is often translated "saved" is "sozo."  It is translated a variety of ways in the New Testament.  It can mean healed, preserved, delivered, or made whole. 

* According to its context, this isn't a verse about salvation.  It is a verse about deliverance.  An alternate translation reads, "those who endure to the end will be delivered."

10:23 - Jesus tells his disciples that he will return before they can "go over the cities of Israel." Later (24:14) he says he will not come until the gospel is preached throughout the world. Well, his disciples went over the cities of Israel and then died waiting for the "return of the Lord." Now, nearly 2000 years later, and long after the gospel had been preached throughout the world, his followers still wait.

* Jesus is simply saying that the disciples won't be able to reach every city in Israel before Jesus is resurrected.

* In Matthew 24:14, Jesus clearly mentions "the end."  He is not referring to His resurrection, but the end of time.

10:28 - Jesus says that we should fear God who is willing and "able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

* Yes, we should fear God.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

10:29, 31 - God is involved in the death of every sparrow. He sees to it that they each die painful deaths of starvation, predation, or disease. But don't worry. God will do the same for you. (He thinks that humans are worth much more than sparrows.)

* These verses simply indicate God's all-powerful and sovereign qualities.  These verses don't say anything about God causing pain and death to sparrows or other animals.  However, they do state that their death is in His will.  Even animals don't die without God allowing them to die.

10:33 - "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." According to the gospels (Mt.26:69-75, Mk.14:66-72, Lk.22:55-62, Jn.15:18-27), Peter denied Jesus three times before men. Therefore Jesus must have denied Peter before God.

* Matthew 10:32 and 33 read, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."  Jesus is clearly speaking about confession unto salvation vs. lifetime denial unto damnation.

* Although it was unfortunate, Peter's denial was momentary and he never denied Jesus' divinity.  He was fearful and denied knowing Jesus Christ.  Later, he repented, was restored, and made a huge impact for God's kingdom.  He was even crucified upside down for his passionate faith and preaching.

10:34-36 - Jesus says that he has come to destroy families by making family members hate each other. He has "come not to send peace, but a sword." Yet elsewhere in the New Testament Jesus is said to bring peace.

* Jesus never states that He came specifically to destroy families.  However, He does say that families will be divided over Him.

* Jesus brought peace to the ones that repent and trust, believe, and accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  However, to those that do not, they will not have peace with God.

* Jesus is also emphasizing the need to love and follow Him at all costs.

10:37 - Jesus warns us not to love our parents or children too much. We have to make sure that we always love him (who we don't even know existed) more than our family.

* Jesus said, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."  If we put other people or things before God, we will suffer.  However, if we love Him more than anything, He will help us love others and prioritize our lives correctly.

Chapter 11

11:3 - John the Baptist is still not sure about Jesus (he's in prison and is soon to die). He sends his disciples to ask, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Well, if he isn't sure after seeing and hearing the events at Jesus' baptism, then how can anyone else be?

* John the Baptist had been in prison for awhile.  He was getting depressed and beginning to doubt.  This wasn't good, but it is understandable.  Nonetheless, Jesus didn't come to Earth to bust John the Baptist out of prison.  He came to Earth to die for our sins and rise from the dead.

11:11 - John the Baptist was the greatest man ever to live (even greater than Jesus), but "he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

* There are several reasons why John the Baptist was the greatest.  1) He was prophesied by Isaiah and Malachi (See Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1).  2) He had the privilege of showing the fulfillment of their predictions.  3) He saw and enjoyed the salvation that the prophets merely foretold.

* Once the saints reach Heaven, they will receive new bodies, eternal rewards, rest and solace away from temptation and sin, etc.  They will clearly be more blessed than the greatest person on Earth.

11:12 - And from the days of John the Baptist until now ..." Until when? John the Baptist was still alive when this verse was supposedly uttered. Jesus continues to bewilder his poor disciples by saying, "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

* Another translation of this verse is as follows: "And from the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, ardent multitudes have been crowding toward the Kingdom of Heaven."  Jesus is simply stating how people have been "taking the kingdom of Heaven" by force.  In other words, some people were so excited and passionate about salvation that they were rushing into the kingdom.

* There is no indication that His disciples were confused about this statement.

11:13-14 - Was John the Baptist Elijah? Jesus says that he was (see also Mt.17:12 and Mk.9:13), but in Jn.1:21 John the Baptist clearly says that he is not Elijah.

* John the Baptist was not the same person as Elijah.  In Matthew 11:14, Jesus is saying, "If you are willing to understand what I mean, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come."  Jesus didn't mean that he was literally Elijah.  He had the same spirit as Elijah.

11:15-17 - Is dancing a sin?

* Jesus was comparing that generation to a person who would not celebrate.

11:20-24 - Jesus condemns entire cities to dreadful deaths and to the eternal torment of hell because they didn't care for his preaching.

* Jesus came to Earth and did miracles.  He did them before many people.  However, some of them still didn't believe and repent.  Therefore, He pronounced judgment on those people.

Chapter 12

12:2-5 - When Jesus and his disciples are accused of breaking the sabbath, he excuses himself by referring to a scripture in which priests who "profaned the sabbath" were blameless. But there is no such passage in the Old Testament.

* Jesus is simply referring to the actions of the animal sacrifices on the Sabbath.

12:3-4 - Was David alone when he asked for the holy bread at Nob?

* David was getting the bread to feed him and some men.  These men are mentioned in 1 Samuel 21:5 and in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  However, when he was in front of the priest, he was alone.  This is why the priest identifies him as alone, but inquires about the men.  This is also why the gospel writers indicate the bread was for David and his men that were with him.  They were with him, but in this scene, they were not in the same room.

12:22 - Jesus casts out a devil from a man who was blind and dumb (blind and dumb people are possessed by devils).

* This verse does not indicate that all blind and/or dumb people are possessed with devils.  However, this person was afflicted by this devil.

12:30 - Jesus says, "He that is not with me is against me." But Mark (9:40) and Luke (9:50) confuse the issue by having Jesus say, "He that is not against me is for me."

* In Matthew 12:30, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees who were accusing and opposing Him.  He told them, "He that is not with me is against me."

* In Mark 9:40 and Luke 9:50, Jesus tells His disciples that it was ok for another person to cast out demons in His name because, "For he who is not against us is on our side."

* It is important to consider the context of these quotes.  In their proper context, they are both correct.  In Matthew 12:30, the Pharisees were not with Him, so they were against Him.  In Mark 9:40 and Luke 9:50, a man was able to cast out demons in His name, so he was not against Jesus, but on His side.

12:31-32 - Those who speak "against the Holy Ghost" will never be forgiven. But Acts (13:39) claims that "all that believe are justified from all things."

* Jesus was speaking to the unbelieving Pharisees about their attributing Jesus' power, that came from the Holy Spirit, to the Devil.  Jesus told them that this unbelief would not be forgiven.

* Acts 13:39 is correct.  Those that believe are justified.  However, the Pharisees in the above passage did not believe and they were not forgiven.

12:34 - Jesus often called people vile names. One of his favorites was to call his adversaries a "generation of vipers."

* Jesus had the authority to describe people as they were.

12:37 - Jesus says that "by words" people are either justified or condemned. But this contradicts Mark (16:16) and John (3:18, 36) which say that people are justified by believing the right things. And, of course, it also contradicts the many New Testament verses claiming that salvation is by faith alone.

* Jesus is simply indicating that a person's words declare their repentance and belief in Him.  These Pharisees verbalized their disbelief, therefore they were going to face judgment.

* See "Special Questions" for more on salvation by faith alone.

12:37 - What must you do to be saved? Say the right things.

* In response to the Pharisees' false accusations, Jesus says, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Jesus is referring to confession unto salvation (or lack thereof).  If one does not confess his or her sins, then they will be judged on their merits and condemned if they do not live a perfect life.  This was appropriate for Jesus Christ to say to the Pharisees because they were falsely accusing Him of casting out demons in Beelzebub's name.  See verse 24.

12:39 - Jesus says that only evil people ask for signs from God. Yet in other verses, God encourages belief by showing signs.

* Jesus did many signs and miracles.  However, when the unbelievers that wanted to mock Him disbelieved His signs and miracles and asked for a special sign (just for them and their egos), He would not give it to them.

12:40 - Jesus believed in the literal truth of the fish story in Jonah. However, he claims that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, while Jonah (1:17) says it was a "big fish." Jesus predicts that he will be "in the heart of the earth" for three days and three nights. If by this he meant that he would be in the tomb for three days and three nights, then either he was mistaken or the gospels are in error. Because according to the gospels (this is one of the few things they all seem to agree on), Jesus was in the tomb for only one day and two nights.

* This Greek word for "whale" also means "big fish."

* The phrase "after three days" is idiomatically interchangeable with the phrase "in three days."  If this were not so, then the Romans would have had guards at Jesus' tomb on the fourth day.

* Matthew 16:21 and Mark 8:31 show how these phrases are used interchangeably.  They quote the same words by Jesus, but use both phrases.

* 1 Samuel 30:12, 13 indicates this interchangeable usage.  "For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights."  The next verse reads, "My master left me behind . . . three days ago."

* Genesis 42:17 and 18 reveal this, idiomatic usage, too.  Joseph imprisons his brothers for three days.  However, they are released on the third day.

12:42 - Who was greater: Jesus or Solomon?

* Jesus is greater than Solomon.  Jesus is part of the triune Godhead.  He was and is sinless.

* 1 Kings 3:12 reads, "Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you."  God is talking to Solomon about His gift to him.  God is surely not telling Solomon that he would have greater wisdom (or be greater, in general) than any of the persons in the triune Godhead (God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit).  God is telling him about his blessing that is within a human framework.  Solomon was not one with God and this verse doesn't say or imply he was.  Therefore, he was not greater or equal to Jesus Christ.

* The triune Godhead is uncreated.  Therefore, it wasn't simply before or after Solomon.  It always was and always will be.

12:43-45 - When an unclean spirit (whatever that may be) leaves a person's body, he goes out to find another. Not finding any, he comes back with seven other spirits more wicked than himself and repossesses the person.

* Jesus is giving an example of what can happen to people who are possessed and delivered, but don't get saved.  They can be repossessed by more unclean spirits.

12:47-49 - When Jesus' mother and brothers want to see him, Jesus rudely asks, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" So much for Jesus' family values.

* Jesus doesn't say anything negative about His family.  He simply elevates the status of believers.  The believers in Christ are the Christian's eternal family.

Chapter 13

13:10-15 - Jesus explains that the reason he speaks in parables is so that no one will understand him, "lest ... they ... should understand ... and should be converted, and I should heal them."

* Jesus spoke in parables for many reasons.  One reason is that the people would hear them and understand greater, spiritual truths.  The people who really wanted the answers received them (and still do, today).

* In verses 14 and 15, Jesus explains why these people didn't believe.  They read, "Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears Bare hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed . . ."

13:12 - "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." Isn't this from the Republican Party platform?

* Jesus is simply stating that people who love God and are given things from Him will be given even more.  Those that don't trust or believe in Him will lose the little that they have.

13:31-32 - Jesus is incorrect when he says that the mustard seed is the smallest seed. And since there are no trees in the mustard family, mustard seeds do not grow into "the greatest of all trees."

* Jesus never said that the mustard seed was the smallest seed.  He said it was the "least."

* Jesus said it is greater than all herbs and becomes a tree.  This is true.

13:35 - Misquote of Ps.78:2-3

* First, Jesus and Matthew never said that He was quoting David verbatim in Matthew 13:35.  Next, the Greek text in Matthew closely resembles the Hebrew text in Psalms.

* Another translation of Psalm 78:2 is this: "I will open my mouth in a parable and utter eternal proverbs."  This is essentially what Jesus is recorded saying.

13:41-42 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* This is a passage that references the real place called Hell.

13:41-42, 50 - Jesus will send his angels to gather up "all that offend" and they "shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

* Jesus is speaking about the future judgment of unbelievers.

13:47-48 - Is anyone good? Yes.

* Yes, people can be good.  They can also be bad.

13:49 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

13:55-57 - Jesus is rejected by those who know him the best -- the people of his home town of Nazareth.

* These verses don't indicate that these people knew Jesus best.  However, they do reveal that they rejected Jesus.  If they didn't already, after Jesus' resurrection, many people (including His family) believed and converted.

Chapter 14

14:2 - Herod thought Jesus was a resurrected John the Baptist. Apparently, it was a common opinion at the time (See Mt.16.13-14, Mk.6:14-15, 8:27-28, Lk.9:7-8, 18-19). If so many of Jesus' contemporaries could be so easily fooled regarding John the Baptist, what does this do to the credibility of Jesus' resurrection?

* Herod simply thought this was John the Baptist because he had put him to death.  This wasn't necessarily a widespread belief.

* Herod wasn't a follower of Jesus Christ.  According to the gospels, none of Jesus' followers ever asked Him if He was John the Baptist.  The only accounts of this allegation were when Peter admitted He was the Messiah and when Herod was confused.

* The gospel writers knew and recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  These writers knew He wasn't John the Baptist.  Therefore, their resurrection accounts can surely be trusted.

14:6-8 - Is dancing a sin?

* In this passage, we find Herod's daughter dancing to entice him; only so she could get a wish and that wish was for John the Baptist's head on a platter. This was displeasing to God.

Chapter 15

15:4-7 - Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for not washing his hands before eating. He defends himself by attacking them for not killing disobedient children according to the commandment: "He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." (See Ex.21:15, Lev.20:9, Dt.21:18-21) So Jesus thinks that children who curse their parents should be killed.

* The Pharisees had created a doctrine ("the tradition of the elders") that stated a person must wash their hands before eating.  This doctrine included a belief about an evil spirit that sat on their hands during the night and if a person did not wash his or her hands before eating, this spirit would make the food hurtful for them! 

* Jesus indicated that the Pharisees were trying to make Him and His followers obey a foolish law that they created.  He also told them that they weren't following or understanding the law that was given by God.

15:21 - Jesus visits Tyre which according to Ezekiel (26:14, 21; 27:36, 28:19) was not supposed to exist.

* In 1291 A.D., Tyre was destroyed by the Mamluks.

* These verses in Ezekiel do not give a timetable for the destruction of Tyre.

15:22-26 - Jesus refuses to heal the Canaanite (Mk.7:26 says she was Greek) woman's possessed daughter, saying "it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs."

* These passages complement each other.  Matthew states, "a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts."  This means that she had settled in the region of Canaan; she lived there.  Matthew does not comment on her nationality.

* Mark states that she was "a Greek and Syrophenician by nation."  Therefore, she was born in Syro-Phoenicia.  Matthew does not comment on where she was living.

* Jesus made it clear that He had been sent to the Israelites, first.  However, His mission was to save all.  When He heals her daughter, this is made clear.

15:24 - Jesus says that his mission is only for the Israelites, contrary to many verses that say it is for everyone.

* Jesus came to save everyone.  At this point, He was indicating the first part of His mission.  He healed this Gentile's daughter and later made it even more clear that He came to save everyone.

15:33 - The disciples wonder where they will get the bread to feed four thousand. But they should know by now, since Jesus just did the same trick in 14:14-21. These stories are probably the result of two oral versions of the same fictitious story.

* These are two, clear and distinctly different accounts.  There is no evidence that they are fictional.

Chapter 16

16:3-4 - The ever-so-kind Jesus calls the Pharisees "hypocrites, wicked, and adulterous."

* The Pharisees were hypocrites, wicked, and adulterous.

16:4 - Jesus says that no signs will be given except for the Sign of Jonah." But other verses say that many signs were given to justify belief in Jesus.

* Jesus did many signs and miracles.  However, when the unbelievers, that wanted to mock Him disbelieved these signs and miracles and asked for a special sign (just for them and their egos), He would not give it to them.

16:13-14 - Opinions were divided regarding the identity of Jesus, but many thought that he was the risen John the Baptist. The fact that people could be so easily fooled regarding the Baptist's "resurrection" casts doubt on the resurrection of Jesus.

* Herod simply thought this was John the Baptist because he had put him to death.  This wasn't necessarily a widespread belief.

* Herod wasn't a follower of Jesus Christ.  According to the gospels, none of Jesus' followers ever asked Him if He was John the Baptist.  The only accounts of this allegation were when Peter admitted He was the Messiah and when Herod was confused.

* The gospel writers knew and recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  These writers knew He wasn't John the Baptist.  Therefore, their resurrection accounts can surely be trusted.

16:23 - When Peter expressed his dismay when Jesus announced his coming death, Jesus said to him "Get thee behind me, Satan" -- a fine way to address his holiness, the first pope!

* There is no biblical evidence that Peter was a pope or that there should be popes.

* At that moment, Peter had challenged Jesus' plan and His very reason for coming to Earth.  His comments were evil and inspired by the Devil.

16:27 - Jesus says here that people will be judged by their works. But Paul insists that people are saved not by their works, but by their faith alone (Rom.3:28, Eph.2:8-9, Gal.2:16).

* This verse reads, "He shall reward every man according to His works."  This is surely talking about eternal rewards that will be given to believers in Christ.

* See "Special Questions" for more on salvation by faith alone.

16:27 - What must you do to be saved? Do the right things.

* This verse is teaching that saved believers will receive eternal rewards while unbelievers will receive punishment.

16:28 - Jesus mistakenly tells his followers that he will return and establish his kingdom within their lifetime.

* This passage does not say that Jesus will return and establish His kingdom within their lifetime.  It reads, "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

* This passage is likely referring to John (and possibly others).  In Revelation (see 4:1, for instance), John is present in Heaven and has an awesome experience: he sees inside the Kingdom of God, he sees Jesus come to Earth, etc.  This all happened, of course, before John's death.

* This Greek word for "coming" can also be translated "appearing."

Chapter 17

17:1 - Matthew says the transfiguration occurred six days after Jesus foretells his death, but Luke (9:27-28) says it was eight days.

* Luke clearly states, ". . . about eight days after these things . . ."  Matthew says, "After six days . . ."  Neither author indicates which event they were referring to as the starting point for their days.  Therefore, it is impossible to impose a contradiction.

17:11 - Jesus says that Elijah, whom he believes is John the Baptist, will come and "restore all things." But what things did John the Baptist restore?

* Jesus didn't believe that Elijah was John the Baptist.  Jesus indicated that there would be a forerunner to precede Him that had the same spirit of power as Elijah.  This person was John the Baptist.

* John the Baptist preached a gospel of repentance.  He made way for the Messiah.  This was the restoration that Jesus was talking about.

17:12-13 - Was John the Baptist Elijah?"

* John the Baptist was not the same person as Elijah.  In Matthew 11:14, Jesus is said, "If you are willing to understand what I mean, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come."  Jesus didn't mean that he was literally Elijah.  He had the same spirit as Elijah.

17:15-18 - Jesus cures an epileptic "lunatic" by "rebuking the devil." (Epilepsy is caused by devils.) Jesus speaks harshly of his disciples when they fail to cast out the devil, saying "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?"

* These verses don't indicate that all epilepsy is caused by devils.

* Jesus had empowered His disciples to cast out devils.  Therefore, He was upset that they didn't have the faith and knowledge to do it.

17:20 - If your faith is great enough, you can move mountains around.

* Metaphorically, this is surely true!

17:27 - Jesus tells Peter to pay his taxes with a coin that he'll find in the mouth of the first fish that he catches from the sea.

* This is true.

Chapter 18

18:3, 19:14 - Jesus says that only childish people can enter heaven. But Paul says that we should "put away childish things." I guess poor Paul didn't make it to heaven.

* Jesus is making a comparison between the heart and qualities of young people and the heart and qualities of a person that has saving faith in Jesus Christ.

* In 1 Corinthians 13:11, this Greek word for "childish" can be better interpreted "immature."  Paul is contrasting the immature things of youth with maturity.  There is no contradiction here.  There are simply two, different aspects of children that are being compared and contrasted.

18:7 - Jesus condemns the whole world, saying "Woe unto the world because of offenses."

* Jesus does not condemn the world.  Jesus warns the people in the world about their sinfulness.

18:8-9 - Jesus advises his followers to mutilate themselves by cutting off their hands and plucking out their eyes. He says it's better to be "maimed" than to suffer "everlasting fire."

* Jesus is simply indicating that His followers should adamantly hate sin and do everything they can to avoid it.

18:8-9 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* Verse 9 affirms the existence of Hell.

18:14 - Jesus says that God does not want any child to die. But this is contradicted throughout the Old Testament, where God often killed, or commanded others to kill, children.

* Jesus is indicating that He did not want even one of these children to go to Hell.  This has nothing to do with God's judgments in the Old Testament.

Chapter 19

19:9 - In Mark (10:11) and Luke (16:18), Jesus categorically condemns all divorces. But Matthew's Jesus (see also Mt.5:31) makes an exception when the wife is guilty of fornication.

* Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18, Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 are all different statements, made by Jesus, about divorce.  They don't contradict each other, though.  They complement each other.

* First, Jesus makes it clear that God created man and woman to enter into a covenant with God to stay married.  He quotes Genesis, too.  This is the ideal.

* Here are the things that we learn from these four statements by Jesus:

1) If a husband or wife divorces the other and marries another, then they commit adultery (Mark 10:11).  Since no reasons or circumstances are given, Jesus is obviously talking about divorce without fornication.

2) If a husband divorces his wife and marries another, then he commits adultery.  If the divorced wife marries another, then she commits adultery (Luke 16:18).  Once again, Jesus is talking about divorce without fornication being the cause.

3) If a husband divorces his wife for any reason besides fornication, then he causes her to commit adultery.  Whoever marries this divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:32).  Now, Jesus is giving instructions about a married person who commits fornication.

4) If a husband divorces his wife for any reason besides fornication and marries another woman, he commits adultery.  Whoever marries this divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 19:9).  Once again, Jesus is giving instructions about a married person who commits fornication.

* It is obvious from the text that the first two verses are toward people who have not committed fornication.  The third and fourth verses are given to people who have committed fornication.  These don't contradict each other, but they give instructions to people in different circumstances.  Furthermore, they aren't taken from the same times and places in Jesus' ministry, so they cannot be misquotes or omissions.

* 1 Corinthians 7:15 addresses another circumstance.  Paul gives instructions to spouses who have an unbelieving husband or wife that abandons them.  They are no longer in bondage to them.

19:10-12 - After Jesus denounces divorce, his disciples say that if divorce isn't allowed, then "it is good not to marry." Jesus agrees by saying that it is better to make yourself a eunuch "for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Many have castrated themselves attempting to follow Jesus' advice in this verse.

* Jesus specifically said, "All cannot accept this . . ."  Jesus never commanded people to be eunuchs.  In fact, He explained several types of eunuchs and two of the types are involuntary.

* I have never heard (nor do I see any evidence) of "many" people castrating themselves because of these verses.

19:12 - Dangerous words from a guy who recommends cutting of body parts if they cause you to sin (Mt.5:29-30, Mt.18:8-9, Mk.9:43-48). It might make someone castrate himself so that he could be one of the 144,000 male virgins, who alone will make it to heaven (Rev.14:3-4).

* Jesus mentioned the removal of body parts to indicate the seriousness of sin.  He doesn't prefer that we elect to remove body parts instead of repenting and remaining pure.

* Revelation 14:3 and 4 never state that only 144,000 male virgins will make it to Heaven.

19:17 - Jesus denies being either good or God. "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God."

* By reading the text in verse 16, we know that this person didn't recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  In fact, He called Jesus, "Good Teacher."  This is the reason for Jesus' response.

19:17 - Is salvation by faith alone? Well, not according to Jesus. He clearly says here that salvation depends only on "keeping the commandments."

* Jesus constantly told people that salvation came from repenting and believing, trusting and accepting Him as Lord and Savior.  Jesus' chose these particular words in His conversation with this Jew because He wanted to show him that he was a sinner and didn't deserve the kingdom of God; especially under the Old Covenant.  If this man would have stayed with Jesus longer, then he would have realized that he was sinful and Jesus would have revealed to Him the salvation message.

* See "Special Questions" for more on salvation by faith alone.

19:17-19 - What must you do to be saved? Follow the commandments (at least some of them).

* Jesus was making a point to this inquirer that according to the Old Covenant in the Old Testament, he would be condemned.

19:18-19 - Jesus lists the "ten commandments," but his list has only six, and the sixth is not one of the ten. The commandments given by Jesus are secular, not religious, in nature.

* Jesus lists six of the ten commandments.  These commandments came from God, therefore they are neither secular or religious.

19:23-24 - What must you do to be saved? Be poor, not rich.

* These verses only tell us that it is difficult for a rich man to enter Heaven.

19:26 - Jesus says that God can do anything, but elsewhere the Bible says that some things are impossible for God.

* Judges 1:19 indicates that the Israelites did not drive out the inhabitants of the valley.  It does not indicate that God couldn't drive them out.

* In Mark 6:5, he states that Jesus couldn't do mighty works because of their unbelief.  This doesn't mean that God's power is limited.  Faith activates God's power.  Since these people didn't believe, they didn't receive the mighty miracles of God.

* In Hebrews 6:18, it states that God cannot lie.  This is true.  He has made certain promises to us and He will keep them.  However, He is still all-powerful.  His character is perfect and lying is not part of it.

19:28 - Jesus tells his apostles, "ye shall sit upon the twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." I wonder which tribe Judas is judging?

* Jesus uses the phrase, "you who have followed Me."  He doesn't specifically mention Judas.  Therefore, it is likely that he will not be judging the twelve tribes on a throne.

19:29 - Abandon your wife and children for Jesus and he'll give you a big reward.

* The word "forsaken" doesn't refer to abandoning your wife and children for inappropriate reasons.  Jesus is indicating that anybody who puts Him above all others would be rewarded.

Chapter 20

20:18-19 - Jesus tells his disciples about his impending death and resurrection. But John (20:8-9) says that the disciples had never heard any of this before Jesus' death.

* John 20:9 indicates that they didn't know or understand the scriptures about His resurrection.  This doesn't mean that Jesus never told them.

20:23 - Jesus says that he does not have the power to assign the positions of power in heaven, but later in Matthew (28:18) Jesus says "all power is given to me in heaven."

* Jesus simply indicates that God has already decided who will sit on His right and left side.

* In Matthew 28:18, Jesus is referring to the power that He had to send the disciples into the world to make disciples.  Jesus never mentions wanting to change God's decision about the ones that will sit at His right and left side.

20:28 - Was Jesus a ransom for many or for all? For many.

* This verse says Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many; not all (as it says in 1 Timothy 2:6).  However, the Hebrew word that is translated into the English word "ransom" is different, so that's why we have see an alleged error.

* In Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28, the simple Hebrew word "lutron" is translated "ransom."  It means to "loosen" or a "redemption price (figuratively ransom)."  In 1 Timothy 2:6, the compound Hebrew word "antilutron" is used.  It refers to substitution and a "redemption price."  Therefore, Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many and a substitutionary, redemptive price for all.

20:30 - Matthew says that two blind men were healed by Jesus near Jericho, but both Mark (10:46) and Luke (18:35) say that only one was healed.

* There were two blind men that received their sight.  As is customary, Mark and Luke simply mention the man that spoke and omitted the man who did not speak.

Chapter 21

21:4 - This verse claims that Jesus fulfils the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. But this cannot be since the person referred to in Zechariah (see verses 10-13) was both a military leader and the king of an earthly kingdom.

* Verse 10 includes His dominion being "to the ends of the Earth."  This is absolutely true of Jesus' spiritual kingdom.  He clearly said that His kingdom is not of this world.  Therefore, He didn't come to set up an earthly kingdom.

21:5-7 - Matthew has Jesus ride into Jerusalem sitting on both an ass and a colt (must have taken some practice!). But Mark (11:7) and Luke (19:35) say that he rode on a colt only, and John (12:14) says he rode on a young ass.

* John 12:14 states that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young ass.  This Greek word in Mark 11:17 and Luke 19:35 indicates that Jesus rode on a "young ass," also.

* Matthew 21:7 tells us that there was a "young ass" for Jesus and also another animal for the other disciples.

21:18-20 - Jesus curses a fig tree and the tree dies immediately (showing the world how much God Hates Figs). But in Mark's gospel (11:14, 20-21) the cursed fig tree doesn't die until the next morning.

* The fig tree's leaves withered away, immediately.  However, 1) not all of the disciples were there to witness this miracle and 2) its roots were not seen as withered until the next day. Mark records them passing the fig tree, Jesus cursing it and teaching His disciples, both from and to Jerusalem.  Matthew only records the events regarding the fig tree on the way to Jerusalem. 

* Here is Mark's record of the trip from Jerusalem: Mark 11:12-14 reads, "Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it."

* Here is Mark's record of the fig tree on the way to Jerusalem (the next day): Mark 11:20 and 21 reads, "Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.'"

* Here is Matthew's record of the fig tree on the way to Jerusalem (also, the next day): Matthew 21:18-20 reads, "Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, 'Let no fruit grow on you ever again.' Immediately the fig tree withered away.
And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, 'How did the fig tree wither away so soon?'"  Simply because Mark's passage doesn't mention its leaves and their immediate withering, this doesn't mean that the fig tree's leaves didn't wither immediately. Jesus likely had a large group around Him and for every person to see and be present for every action He made and every word He said would be unreasonable. Furthermore, Mark isn't responsible for including every word that Jesus spoke or every reaction that was made by His followers. 

* Mark 11:20-21 reads, "Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.'"  In this passage, we see a more emphatic statement because something new has been witnessed.  Some of the disciples had seen Jesus make the fig tree's leaves wither away (Mark 11:12-14).  However, it isn't cited as "dried up to/from the roots" until the next day (Mark 11:20-21 and Matthew 21:18-20).  This is typical and consistent with the withering of a plant.  First, the top is seen withered, then the roots are found withered, too.  It was apparently unearthed by the next day. 

* Peter may or may not have been there for the miracle on the first day.  However, this is immaterial because the next day, as Mark points out, Peter exclaims that the entire fig tree is withered - its leaves and its roots. 

Here is the chronology from Matthew:
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt.
The people laid down palms and proclaimed He was King.
Jesus cleansed the temple and healed people.
He and some disciples went out of Bethany.
In the morning, He and some disciples were returning to "the city" and saw the fig tree on the road.
Jesus cursed the fig tree, it withered and some of His disciples noticed it. (Matthew 21:18-20)
Jesus taught them about faith.
Jesus and some disciples returned to the temple.

Here is the chronology from Mark:
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt.
The people laid down palms and proclaimed He was King.
Jesus went into the temple in Jerusalem. No details are given.
He left and went to Bethany with His 12 apostles.
He left Bethany and on the road, with some of the disciples, He cursed the fig tree. (11:12-14)
Jesus and some disciples went to the temple in Jerusalem and He cleansed it.
He left the city, in the evening.
In the morning, He and some disciples passed by the cursed fig tree.
Peter exclaimed that it and its roots were withered. (11:18-20)
Jesus taught them on faith.
Jesus returned to the temple in Jerusalem.

* In short, these stories don't contradict.  We have more details in Mark, though.  Jesus passed the fig tree twice.  He was with some different people and some of the same people on each passing, therefore He taught them about it, twice.

21:21-22 - If your faith is great enough, then you can move mountains around. And whatever you ask for your will receive. (O Lord, won't ya buy me a Mercedes-Benz?)

* Metaphorically, believers can move mountains of sin and pain out of their lives with prayer.  If they pray in Jesus' name (according to His will), they will get what they request.

Chapter 22

22:10 - Is anyone good? Yes.

* Yes, people can be good.  They can also be bad.

22:10-14 - In the parable of the marriage feast, the king sends his servants to gather everyone they can find, both bad and good, to come to the wedding feast. One guest didn't have on his wedding garment, so the king tied him up and "cast him into the outer darkness" where "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* In their tradition, appropriate wedding garments were given to those who asked for them.  However, this guest didn't ask for one and was dressed inappropriately.  This garment represents holiness and righteousness.  This guest could have been clothed with Christ's righteousness, but he did not ask for it.  Consequently, he is punished.

22:13 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* This is a parable that refers to Hell.

22:14 - What must you do to be saved? Be chosen (predestined) by God).

* This is the last verse in a parable and makes no definitive, doctrinal statement about salvation.

22:39 - Jesus quotes Lev.19:18: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire bible. But in the next chapter of Leviticus, God orders us to kill wizards (20:6), children who are disrespectful toward their parents (20:9), adulterers (20:10), and homosexuals (20:13). And throughout the Old Testament, God encourages the Israelites to kill their neighbors every chance they get. (See Numbers 31 and 1 Samuel 15 for just two of many examples.)

* God didn't order us to kill wizards.  He told the ancient Israelites to put them to death for their rejection of God and decision to embrace evil spirits.  Furthermore, God decreed capital punishment was the appropriate punishment for several, wicked crimes.  He drew the line and the Israelites were to avoid crossing it.

* Concerning Numbers 31 and 1 Samuel 15, Israel fought many wars.  God often gave the spiritual reason for these wars, but there were surely other reasons, too.  It isn't always wrong to go to war.

22:45 - Jesus denies being a descendent of David. But many New Testament passages claim that he was descended from David.

* Jesus never denies being a descendant of David.  In fact, He asks the Pharisees about the Messiah and they indicate He must come from David.  However, Christ asks them about a passage where David calls Him Lord and reveals that this person called Christ is also one with God.

Chapter 23

23:3, 5 - Should we let others see our good works?

* Verse 5 says, "all their works they do to be seen by men." This was inappropriate, so Jesus spoke against it. The question, "Should we let others see our good works?" has nothing to do with this verse. Nonetheless, we are to have a pure motive and do works to glorify God and edify others. This doesn't mean doing everything in secret and it also doesn't mean doing things specifically to get noticed.

23:9 - Jesus tells us to "call no man your father upon the earth." Not even dear old dad? Was it OK for Elisha to cry out "father, father" as Elijah ascended into heaven? (2 Kg.2:12) And how can we "honor our father" if we refuse to call him our father? (Ex.20:12, Dt.5:16)

* This word "father" is referring to an "infallible teacher."  In the Jewish tradition, they called some people "rabbi" and this was referring to their infallibility as a teacher.  Jesus is warning against this.

23:10 - Jesus tells us to call no one "master," because he want us to serve him alone. But elsewhere slaves are told to faithfully serve their masters, and women are told to serve and obey their husbands.

* It is true that servants should obey their masters and Christ will be glorified through them.  However, nobody should recognize another as their God that takes the place of our one, true Master.

23:17, 19 - Jesus calls his critics fools (among other things like hypocrites and vipers), thus making himself eligible for "hell fire." (Mt.5:22)

* In Matthew 5:22, Jesus warned people about name-calling without loving people enough to tell them the error of their ways.  In this passage, Jesus goes into great detail to explain to these people why they are wicked and how they can become righteous.

23:31 - Jesus condemns the Jews for being "the children of them which killed the prophets."

* Jesus never condemns these people.  However, He does identify them as the children of those that killed the prophets; and rightfully so.

23:35 - Jesus says that Zecharaiah was the son of Barachias, but 2 Chr.24:20 says that he was the son of Jehoiada.

* Jesus is likely referring to John the Baptist's father.  He was also named Zechariah.  See Luke 1:5.

23:36 - Jesus predicts the end of the world within the lifetime of his listeners.

* In this verse, Jesus doesn't mention anything about the end of the world.  It reads, "Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation."  After mentioning the sins of their ancestors, He tells these Jews that they will be responsible for not recognizing Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  He is indicating that they should have realized who He was, but since they didn't, they would be punished.

Chapter 24

24:13 - What must you do to be saved? Endure to the end.

* When you begin reading this chapter from the beginning, you see that this verse isn't talking about salvation.  It's talking about persecution and one's earthly life.  Furthermore, it would be remiss to say that this passage supersedes other, clear passages that indicate faith is integral in the plan of salvation.

24:14 - Jesus says the gospel will be preached to all nations "and then shall the end come." But in Mt.10:23, he said the end would come before the gospel was preached to all the cities of Israel. In any case, this is a false prophecy since the gospel has been preached throughout the world (as Paul says in Rom.10:18) yet the world hasn't ended.

* The gospel has not been preached to every person in the entire world.  The Bible hasn't even been translated into every language, yet.  However, it won't be long before it goes into every tribe and nation.

* In Matthew 10:23, Jesus is simply saying that the disciples won't be able to reach every city in Israel before Jesus is resurrected.

* In Romans 10:18, Paul is quoting Psalm 19:4.  Psalm 19:1-3 puts this quote into proper context.  David states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.  Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."  This is a different statement than the one Jesus is making.

24:16 - "Let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." Why? Can't God find and kill them there, too?

* Jesus is referring to an end times judgment of persecution.  The people should flee into the mountains because they will be safe there.

24:19 - "Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days." Why? Does God especially hate pregnant and nursing women?

* God doesn't hate pregnant and nursing women.  Conversely, He loves them and gives them a warning about their hardships in the days of persecution.

24:24 - Jesus says there will be "false Christs" that will "show great signs and wonders." Well, Jesus himself according to Acts 2:22 fits this description.

* Jesus fulfilled over 60 Messianic prophecies.  No other person could ever or will ever do this.  He is truly, undoubtedly the Messiah and the true Christ.

* Jesus warns about false christs and prophets because they will deceive people.

24:29 - "The moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven." Apparently, Jesus believed that the moon produces its own light, and that the stars are lights held in place by a firmament only a few miles above our heads.

* Jesus never mentions the distance of the moon or the stars.

* Jesus never identifies the moon as an independent light source.

* These prophecies closely resemble the ones in Revelation.

24:30 - Will Jesus' second coming be visible to all? Well, not according to the Jehovah's Witnesses, anyway. Even though in this verse Jesus says he'll return "on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory" and Rev.1:7 says that "every eye shall see him," The Governing Body claims that Jesus returned invisibly in 1914 without clouds, glory, or being seen by anyone.

* Yes, Jesus' return will be visible to all.

* In John 14:19, Jesus is simply saying that He was leaving the Earth, soon.  He states that, ". . . the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me . . ."

24:34 - Jesus is a false prophet, since he predicts that the end of the world will come within the lifetimes of his disciples. The world of course didn't end then, and according to Ec.1:4 it never will end.

* This Greek word for "generation" also means "age."  Jesus is simply saying that the "church age," which was being ushered into existence, would not pass away until everything was fulfilled.  This is true.

* In Ecclesiastes 1:4, this Hebrew word "forever" is better translated "concealed the vanishing point."  A better translation is this: "One generation passes away and another generation comes, but the Earth stands and its vanishing point is concealed."  No, the Earth won't last forever.

24:36 - Col.2:2-3 implies that Jesus knows everything. But Jesus in this verse says that only his father knows when the end of the world will come.

* In Matthew 24:36, as Jesus walked the Earth, He implied that this day was being hidden from Him.  However, God the Father knows this day.

* In Colossians 2:2 and 3, Paul is referring to the resurrected Christ and God.  He states that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in them.

24:37 - Jesus believed that Noah's flood actually happened and he had no problem with drowning everyone on earth. It'll be just like that when he returns.

* Jesus affirmed Noah's flood. However, he didn't say there would be a worldwide flood when He returns. He listed some of the behaviors that would be present when He returns.

24:50-51 - God will come when people least expect him and then he'll "cut them asunder." And "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* Jesus is warning people that God would judge the wicked ones that reject Him.

Chapter 25

25:1 - Jesus apparently approves of polygamy since he tells, without comment, a parable involving ten virgins and one bridegroom.

* This is a parable.  The virgins represent the church (Christ's followers) and the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ.  Jesus is using this parable to convey the message that His followers should be totally ready for Him.  They should keep themselves pure, too.

25:29 - Jesus will give to those who already have and take from those who have nothing. He must've been a republican.

* Jesus is simply stating that people who love God and are given things from Him will be given even more.  Those that don't trust or believe in Him will lose the little that they have.

25:30 - The servant who kept and returned his master's talent was cast into the "outer darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* Among other things, this story shows how a person who does nothing with their God-given talent will be judged for it.

25:34 - In this verse, Jesus tells us that heaven was prepared "from the foundation of the world," but in Jn.14:2-3 he contradicts himself by saying that heaven will not be prepared until after his ascension.

* God is living in the kingdom of Heaven.  There are angels there.  The Bible obviously teaches that the kingdom of Heaven already exists.

* Matthew 25:34 states that, "inherit the kingdom, prepared for you from the foundation of the world."  John 14:2 states that, ". . . I go to prepare a place for you."  The kingdom has already been prepared, but Christ's followers will receive a special "place" in this kingdom that is prepared for them.

25:34-36 - What must you do to be saved? Do the right things.

* This is a parable that describes some good deeds by some saved believers.  It doesn't indicate that a person is saved by their works.

25:35 - How should strangers be treated? Be kind to them.

* This verse implies that Christians should bless strangers.

25:41 - Jesus tells us what he has planned for those that he dislikes. They will be cast into an "everlasting fire."

* Jesus doesn't simply condemn those that He dislikes.  He condemns those that will not repent and trust, believe and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

25:41, 46 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* These verses affirm Hell.

25:46 - Jesus says the damned will be tormented forever. But Ec.9:5 says that the dead simply cease to exist and are no longer subject to punishment, and Micah (7:18) says that since God's anger doesn't last forever, neither will his punishment.

* Jesus is correct and this is consistent with the teaching about the "lake of fire" in Revelation 21.

* Ecclesiastes 9:5 never states that the dead do not have an afterlife or that they are exempt from punishment.

* In Micah 7:18, he is referring to God's anger toward His people.  It will not remain forever; and it didn't.  He judged them for their sins, then His anger went away.  Verse 19 indicates the context of verse 18.  It reads, "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Chapter 26

26:11 - Jesus says he will not be with his disciples always, but later (28:20) he says he will always be with them.

* In this verse, Jesus is referring to His earthly body and presence.  In Matthew 28:20, Jesus is referring to His spiritual presence.

26:26, 28 - Jesus tells his disciples to eat his body and drink his blood.

* Jesus institutes communion (also called "The Lord's Supper").  This was obviously symbolic because His disciples didn't eat his literal body or drink his literal blood.

26:34 - Jesus says, "before the cock crow, thou [Peter] shall deny me thrice." But according to Mark (14:66-72) the cock crowed after Peter's first denial.

* These phrases, "before the cock crows" and "before the cock crows twice" are simply indicators of the same cock that crows before morning.  Cocks crow right before daybreak.  Jesus was simply telling Peter that before morning, he would deny Him three times.  This was fulfilled, too.

* Before alarm clocks, "the cockcrowing" was a time that everyone knew.  It was right before daybreak.  If any employer told his employee to be at work before "the cockcrowing," he would know that this meant to be there before daybreak. 

* The cocks generally crowed between Midnight and 1am, too, but this wasn't considered "the cockcrowing."  Matthew, Luke, and John knew that people recognized "the cockcrowing" as the one right before daybreak.  Mark simply mentioned the first and second cockcrowing.

* It is likely that Jesus made both statements to Peter.  Jesus said, "The cock will not crow before you deny Me three times."  Peter promised he would never deny Jesus and He replied, "Even this night, before the cock crows two times, you will deny Me three times."

26:47-49 - Did Jesus identify Judas with a kiss? Yes.

* Verse 49 tells us that Judas kissed Jesus.

26:52 - Jesus gives some good advice here. Unfortunately, he gives contradictory advice in Mt.10:34 and Lk.22:36. And, of course, it is also contradicted in innumerable places elsewhere in the bible (See Violence and Injustices for some examples).

* Jesus knew that He needed to be arrested, crucified and resurrected.  Therefore, at this time, He did not want His disciples to fight the Romans.

* In Matthew 10:34, the word "sword" is used figuratively.  The context gives no evidence of literal force or cutting.

* In Luke 22:36, Jesus recommends buying a sword.  This was likely because of the Roman siege that would ensue after His death.  Chronologically, Matthew 26:52 happens after Luke 22:36 and Jesus specifically tells His disciples not to use their swords against the Romans, yet.

26:54-56 - "But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." What scriptures? What prophets? There is no such propecy in the Old Testament.

* Jesus is referring to the prophecies regarding His death.  If He and His disciples were to fight the Romans with swords and overcome them, how could He die for the sins of humankind?

* There are numerous prophecies about Jesus' death.  Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, etc.

26:57 - Was Jesus taken to Caiaphas or Annas first? Caiphas.

* This verse mentions how they took Jesus to Caiaphas.  It doesn't say they took him there first.  It simply omits their trip to Annas' house.

26:63-64 - When the high priest asks Jesus if he is "the Christ, the Son of God," Jesus hedges by saying, "Thou hast said." In Mark (14:62), Jesus answered directly by saying, "I am." In both gospels he falsely prophesies that the high priest would see his second coming.

* Matthew and Mark complement each other.  Jesus spoke, "I am as you said."  Part of this quote was recorded by Matthew and part was recorded by Mark.

* Jesus never said that the high priest would be alive at His second coming.  However, He did say that He would witness it.  This is consistent with Revelation 1:7, Daniel 7:13, Psalm 110:1, etc.

26:69-75 - To whom did Peter deny knowing Jesus?

* According to the scriptures, Peter denied knowing Jesus before a female servant, another female servant and one of the high priest's servants.  This was all done in a crowd of people.

* See "Special Questions" for more on this.

Chapter 27

27:5 - Matthew says that Judas committed suicide by hanging, but Acts (1:18) says that Judas died by falling down and "all his bowels gushed out."

* These passages complement each other.  Judas hung himself, the branch broke, then he fell headlong and his entrails gushed out.

* Incidentally, Acts 1:18 never says that his fall was the cause of his death.  It reads, "Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out."

27:6-7 - Here we are told that the chief priests bought the potter's field. But Acts 1:18 says that the field was bought by Judas.

* The money that Judas received to betray Jesus Christ was used to buy this Potter's field.  This Greek word for "purchased" doesn't mean that he literally gave the money for the Potter's field.  A better translation is: "acquired" or "owned."  This field was bought, by the priests, with Judas' money.  Therefore, it was his.

* This Greek word for "bought" in Matthew 27:7 indicates the priests literally bought the Potter's field.  

* This alleged problem may be better understood like this: Imagine I have $20 and tell you to go to the store and buy me some bread.  You do this and return.  Who bought the bread?  You did - but it was my money, so it could also be said that I bought the bread.  The priests bought the field with Judas' money.  Judas figuratively bought the field and the priests literally bought the field.

27:8 - The phrase "unto this day" shows that the gospel of Matthew was written long after the events it describes.

* This phrase doesn't indicate any timeframe for the date of Matthew's gospel.  It simply indicates that the field was still called, "The Field of Blood" at the time of Matthew's gospel.

27:9 - This is not a quote from Jeremiah, but a misquote of Zechariah (11:12-13).

* How do you know that Jeremiah didn't say this?  Note: Jesus specifically stated, ". . . then was fulfilled what was 'spoken' by Jeremiah the prophet."  There is no evidence that Jeremiah didn't say this.  Simply because it was recorded more specifically in Zechariah (who, incidentally, mentioned the importance of the words of the prophets before him, see Zechariah 7:7) it doesn't mean Jeremiah never spoke this.

* See Jeremiah 18:1-8 for verses connecting Israel with the potter's house.  See Jeremiah 32:6-9 for an allusion to Jesus' quotation.

27:12-14 - Matthew says that Jesus was silent during his trial before Pilate. But in John (33-38), Jesus makes lengthy speeches during his trial.

* This is an argument from silence (which is no argument at all).  Simply because John's gospel mentions Jesus' words, this doesn't mean there is a contradiction.  In Matthew's gospel, at this point in their interaction, Jesus was silent.  However, this doesn't mean that he kept silent for the entire episode.

27:25 - This verse blames the Jews for the death of Jesus and has been used to justify their persecution for twenty centuries.

* These Jews said, "Let His blood be on us and our children."  This does not give anybody authority to hate or oppress the Jews, though.

27:28 - What color was Jesus' robe? scarlet as Matthew says, or purple as in Mark (15:17) and John (19:2)?

* These were two, different robes.  In Matthew 27:28, Jesus was given a scarlet robe, then they put a crown of thorns on His head.  In John 19:2, it states that the soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head, then had Him wear a purple robe.  In Matthew 27:31, it states that after Jesus was mocked, smote and spit on, they removed the purple robe and put the old robe on Him.  If you read these two accounts closely, you can see how they fit perfectly together and do not contradict.  They overlap.

27:32 - Matthew says Simon the Cyrene carried Jesus' cross, but according to John (19:17), Jesus carried his cross himself.

* In the Greek text, John 19:17 doesn't clearly state that Jesus carried His own cross.  There are two, different, Greek words here. too.  Matthew, Mark and Luke use "airo" for "bearing" as Simon was "bearing" Jesus' cross.  This word means "to lift."

* John uses the Greek word "bastazo" for "bearing," which can mean "enduring."  It can be used figuratively, and in this case, it surely was.

27:32 - Matthew says "they gave him vinegar to drink mixed with gall," but Mark (15:23) says that they gave him "wine" and "myrrh."

* Jesus was given fermented wine which was also called vinegar.  According to the Greek words, in all of the gospels, this is consistent.  Mark mentions myrrh and Matthew mentions gall being mixed with this fermented wine.  These are synonymous because both came from a tree and were used for the same purposes.

* Simply because John didn't mention it being mixed, this isn't a contradiction.  It is an omission and expected from a different person's perspective.

27:37 - None of the gospels agree on the wording of the sign placed over Jesus' head. (Mk.15:26, Lk.23:38, Jn.19:19)

* All of these accounts mention an inscription that was written in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.  Mark and Luke record it saying "The King of the Jews."  Matthew records, "Jesus the King of the Jews."  John records, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."  These differences are negligible and are not contradicting.  A disagreement or contradiction would be one saying, "Jesus of Lebanon, King of the Greeks."  All of the gospels record similar and congruent statements.

27:45, 51-53 - When Jesus was crucified, there was three hours of complete darkness "over all the land." And when he died, there was a great earthquake with many corpses walking the streets of Jerusalem. It is strange that there is no record of any of these extraordinary events outside of the gospels.

* There are many extraordinary things that are only mentioned in the scriptures.  This doesn't mean they did not happen.  Much of the Bible has been verified by archaeology, historical records, ancient writings and manuscripts, etc.

27:46 - Matthew disagrees with Luke (23:46) and John (19:30) on the last words of Jesus.

* After He received the vinegar, John states that Jesus said (in a regular voice), "It is finished."  Matthew 27:46 records Jesus crying, before receiving the vinegar, in a loud voice, "My God, why have you forsaken Me?," but clearly says He said something else in a loud voice (Matthew 27:50) before He died.  Luke 23:46 records Jesus crying, in a loud voice, "Into your hands, I commit my Spirit."

* These are all complementary statements that happened at different times.  They are clearly given by people who are in different proximities from Jesus' crucifixion.  John was near Jesus, but only recorded one of His statements.  Matthew was in the general vicinity of Jesus, before He said, "My God, why have you forsaken Me?," then He moved further from Him and couldn't record anything else He said.  Luke was eventually in the general vicinity and recorded Jesus' very last words.

* None of the disciples made "mutually exclusive" statements that would nullify any of the other accounts.  All of these statements were made my Jesus Christ and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John compiled an account of them.  Were there more statements that were not recorded?

27:52-53 - "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints" arose and walked around, appearing to meany in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus died. Yet elsewhere the bible says that no one will ever rise from the dead.

* Yes, there will be a resurrection.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

27:54 - What did the centurion call Jesus when he died?

* Luke records the centurion saying, "Certainly, this was a righteous man."  Matthew and Mark record him saying, "Truly, this was the Son of God."  These are complementary phrases, so the centurion surely said both.

27:55 - Matthew says that the women who followed Jesus to his crucifixion watched from "afar off." But John (19:25) says that they "stood by the cross."

* These two passages of scripture complement each other.  In John 19:25, the women are standing by the cross before Jesus dies.  This is proven by them clearly being there before Jesus is given the vinegar (John 19:29) and his death in verse 30.  In Matthew, He was given the vinegar in Matthew 27:48 and died in verse 50.  In Matthew 27:55, after Jesus' death, the women are "afar off."

Chapter 28

28:1 - Matthew says that two women went to the sepulchre on Easter morning; all of the other gospels disagree. Mark (16:1) says there were three, Luke (24:10) says there were five or more, and John (20:1) says there was only one.

* John does not say that only one woman visited the tomb.  John records Mary Magdalene's visit to the tomb (in the dark).

* Matthew 28:1 reports that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were visiting the tomb at dawn.

* Mark reports that Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and Salome were visiting the tomb while the sun was rising.

* Luke uses the word "they" and does not indicate who was visiting the tomb.  He only indicates who told the account to the disciples.

* These accounts do not contradict.  First, there can be no argument from silence.  With this in mind, there are no conflicting stories, only separate accounts.  In order for a true conflict, one author would need to say that one of the women listed, in one or more of the gospels, was not there.

* If we take these accounts literally and assume each author knew exactly who was where at all times, then Mary Magdalene went to the tomb first.  Next, the other Mary joined her.  Immediately thereafter, Salome joined them.  After this, they returned and told the disciples what had happened.

28:1 - John (Jn.20:1) says that the women arrived at the sepulchre "early, when it was yet dark." But in this verse Matthew says they arrived "as it began to dawn."

* John does not say that only one woman visited the tomb.  John records Mary Magdalene's visit to the tomb (in the dark).

* Matthew 28:1 reports that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were visiting the tomb at dawn.

* Mark reports that Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and Salome were visiting the tomb while the sun was rising.

* Luke uses the word "they" and does not indicate who was visiting the tomb.  He only indicates who told the account to the disciples.

* These accounts do not contradict.  First, there can be no argument from silence.  With this in mind, there are no conflicting stories, only separate accounts.  In order for a true conflict, one author would need to say that one of the women listed, in one or more of the gospels, was not there.

* If we take these accounts literally and assume each author knew exactly who was where at all times, then Mary Magdalene went to the tomb first.  Next, the other Mary joined her.  Immediately thereafter, Salome joined them.  After this, they returned and told the disciples what had happened.

28:2 - None of the gospels agree on just whom the women saw at the tomb. Matthew says they saw an angel; Mark (16:5) says they saw a young man; Luke (24:4) says that two men were seen; and John (20:12) says there were two angels.

* John records that Mary saw two angels (no sex mentioned), in white, sitting in the tomb.  Matthew mentions a conversation with a different angel - a male angel that was sitting on the stone (outside the tomb).  Mark records a young man sitting in the right side of the tomb.  Luke records two, male angels inside the tomb.

* These are all complementary stories.  None of them contradict each other.  John and Luke record two, male angels inside the tomb.  Mark only records one of them because only one spoke.  Matthew records a conversation with an angel that was outside of the tomb.  This doesn't contradict any of the other accounts. It complements them.

28:2 - Was the tomb open or closed when the women arrived?

* Luke does not record all of the events that Matthew records.  For instance, he does not record the conversation with the angel.  However, this is simply an omission.  In this passage, Matthew records more details than Luke.

* Since Matthew was writing about this story after it had happened, Matthew 28:2-4 likely happened before the women arrived.  He simply explained some of the events that preceded their arrival.

28:2 - Were the men or angels inside or outside the tomb when first seen?

* John records that Mary saw two angels (no sex mentioned), in white, sitting in the tomb.  Matthew mentions a conversation with a different angel - a male angel that was sitting on the stone (outside the tomb).  Mark records a young man sitting in the right side of the tomb.  Luke records two, male angels inside the tomb.

* These are all complementary stories.  None of them contradict each other.  John and Luke record two, male angels inside the tomb.  Mark only records one of them because only one spoke.  Matthew records a conversation with an angel that was outside of the tomb.  This doesn't contradict any of the other accounts. It complements them.

28:8 - Matthew says the women immediately ran to tell the disciples what they had seen. But Mark (16:8) denies this saying they were too frightened to tell anyone.

* Matthew states that they ran and told the disciples.  Matthew simply omits their first reaction: surprise.

* Mark 16:10 and 13 clearly state that these women told the rest about Jesus' resurrection.  Verse 8 simply indicates their first reaction.  Nonetheless, Mark tells us (two verses later) that they told the disciples.

24:9 - To whom did Jesus first appear? and did Mary Magdalene recognize Jesus?

* Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, first.  None of the New Testament scriptures contradict this.  Mark 16:9 clearly uses the word "first" to indicate that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, first.  No other passages of scripture use this word to indicate Jesus appearing to someone else, first.

28:10 - Jesus instructs his disciples to go to Galilee immediately after his resurrection. But in Luke (24:49) and Acts (Acts 1:4) Jesus tells them to tarry in Jerusalem and wait for them to be "empowered with power from on high."

* In Matthew 28:10 and Mark 16:7, Jesus was telling them to go to Galilee before He ascended to Heaven.  This was before His command in Luke 24:49.  Therefore, He was simply commanding them to go to Galilee, then to stay in Jerusalem. 

* After His resurrection, Jesus walked the Earth for 40 days.  See Acts 1:3.

28:15 - Once again (see also 27:8), Matthew's phrase "until this day" implies that the gospel of Matthew was not written until long after the reported events supposedly occurred.

* This phrase doesn't indicate any timeframe for the date of Matthew's gospel.

28:16-17 - Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven (Paul [1 Cor.15:5] says he appeared to "the twelve")? Matthew says it was on a mountain in Galilee, but both Luke (24:33-37) and John (20:19) say it was in a room in Jerusalem.

* Neither Luke 24, Mark 16, John 20 or Matthew 28 use the word "first."  Therefore, it is impossible to argue that one claimed their recorded appearance of Jesus came first.

* There is a large difference between a Bible writer omitting a particular event and that Bible writer claiming that a particular event occurred before another event written by a different Bible writer.

28:17 - Even some of Jesus' apostles doubted that the allegedly risen Christ was really Jesus. Well if they weren't sure, how could we ever be?

* On Earth, some people will always doubt.  A human choosing to doubt Christ's divinity does not tarnish His divinity.

28:18 - Jesus says, "All power is given unto me." But this is disputed elsewhere in the New Testament.

* In Matthew 20:23, Jesus simply indicates that God has already decided who will sit on His right and left side.

* In Matthew 28:18, Jesus is referring to the power that He had to send the disciples into the world to make disciples.  Jesus never mentions wanting to change God's decision about the ones that will sit at His right and left side.

28:19 - Jesus tell his apostles to preach the gospel to "all nations," but elsewhere he said otherwise.

* First, the gospel went to the Jews and not to the Gentiles or Samaritans.  Later, the gospel was preached to these groups of people.  See Romans 1:16, 2:9, and 10, etc.

28:19 - Jesus tells his apostles to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," but this formula is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. In Acts (2:38, 8:16, 19:5), baptisms are done only in the name of Jesus.

* Jesus Christ commanded that people be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.  Peter obeyed Jesus Christ.  However, in some passages in Acts, he simply shortened the full name of the triune God (trinity).

28:20 - Jesus says he will be with his disciples always, but elsewhere he denies this.

* Jesus is indicating that His Spirit would be with them.  He was not referring to His earthly body.